“Okay.” I try to log it all in my head. “But Quinn’s not an old lady, she’s just got it bad for the big hairy one, right?”
“Sasquatch.” Alicia laughs.
“So are you and Vi–”
“No,” she quickly interrupts, twisting up her lips and taking another glance up at the mirror.
“You like him, though, right?” I check.
“It wouldn’t matter either way. Vike doesn't see me like that. We’re friends, and I’m grateful for it.”
“How do you manage, being at the club and seeing him all the time? It must be hard.” I don’t need her to admit to me how she feels; I can sense it, and I’m wondering if I could learn something from her, because staying away sure hasn’t worked.
“I’ve had plenty of time to get used to it. Sometimes we just have to accept that there are things in this world we can’t have.” She smiles at me sadly.
“I can’t seem to do that. I’ve tried, and I know you probably think I’m just young and stupid, but I know what I feel for Dev is real. I spent years trying to feel the same way about Corey, and it just wouldn’t happen,” I confess. “Do you really think I should just give up on something I feel that strongly about?” I ask her, begging for some answers.
“First of all, I don’t think you're young and stupid. You're eighteen, and anyone can see that you got your head screwed on. You’ve been through a lot, so has Dev, and sometimes love isn’tfound in therightplaces. Dev’s hurting, he feels like a failure, and despite how it may feel, this is his way of taking care of you,” she explains, looking as if she feels sorry for me.
“It’s a right turn here.” I direct her onto my street, and she looks across to me in shock when I point her to my gates.
“Girl, is this your place?” She looks shocked.
“This is me,” I sigh. “Thanks for the ride and the advice. I guess I’ll just have to do better at staying away.”
“Here.” She takes out her cell and hands it to me, “Put your number in there.” She waits until I’ve typed it in before she takes it back from me and hits call.
“Now you got my number. You ever need to talk, you just call. Maybe we could all meet up for coffee sometime.” She smiles warmly.
“I don’t want to burden you with my problems.” I look down at her round little tummy and smile.
“Trust me, I’m grateful for the distraction from my own,” she assures me. “Call anytime.” I can tell from her voice that she means it
“Thanks for the ride.” I lean across to hug her before I get out, then hold my hand up to Vike, who's parked up behind her. Taking a deep breath, I press the buzzer on the gates, hoping Gregg won’t question where I’ve been or rat me out to my parents. I’ve been working really hard to get in their good books to make life that little bit easier for Dad. But as the gates open and I head back into a world where men like Dev are strictly forbidden, I can’t help feeling that I don’t belong here.
“You good, brother?” Ruckus taps me on the shoulder once Millie has left.
“I am now.” I knock back a shot of vodka from the bar and breathe myself calm. It’s hard not to keep picturing that scrawny prick with his lips on her. Lips that I was kissing myself not that long ago. Despite what I told Millie, I can’t seem to regret it, and the idea of my mouth not being the last one on them makes me wanna get on my bike, follow after her, and kiss the breath outta her body all over again.
“You see the way Vike chased after Alicia?” Rocco interrupts, coming in from outside. “And did I hear someone say you nearly drowned a kid?” He sits himself on the barstool beside me and laughs.
“Shut the fuck up.” I shove my palm into his chest, making him tumble off and fall on his ass. Ruck tries not to laugh as Rocco quickly recovers, standing up, dusting himself off, and looking around to check who saw.
“Sorry,” he mumbles, looking down at the floor before he moves on to piss off someone else.
“You know, Freya talks a lot about Millie; the girls really like her. They’re worried about her.” Ruck leans forward on the bar, raising his eyebrows at Krystal to remind her we’re empty.
“What the fuck has that got to do with me?” I stare at him blankly.
“I never said it did, I was just stating a point. The girl clearly likes hanging out here. I don’t get what your problem is with her.” He shrugs.
“The problem is she’s–”
I stop myself before I give away too much. “She’s just not like us. Her father's running for senator, for Christ's sake. She can hang anywhere in L.A., why the hell would she wanna hang here?” I shake my head and look around the room. Sinner’s balls deep in one of the waitresses who works with Millie. The club sluts are walking around with trays of shots, wearing nothing but a thong. This just ain’t the place for a girl like Millie Dawson.
“Don’t you get it? She wants to be close to you. I mean, you're the only thing she’s got left of Corey, maybe she’s clinging on to that.” He shrugs.
“Yeah, well, she’s gonna have to learn to let it go. I don’t want her here, Ruck.” I make sure he sees how serious I am.
